1986 - The Color of Money Premiered in Theaters
Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Helen Shaver, John Turturro, Bill Cobbs and Forest Whitaker
Paul Newman Won an Academy Award For His Role as Pool Player Fast Eddie Felson
On October 17, 1983 Tom Cruise Appeared on NBC and Discussed the Impact of Risky Business
_______________________________
#1 Songs in America
(October 17th)
1980 - "Another One Bites the Dust"
Queen
10/4 - 10/24
1981 - "Arthur's Theme"
Christopher Cross
10/17 - 11/6
1982 - "Jack & Diane
John Cougar Mellencamp
10/2 - 10/29
1983 - "Total Eclipse of the Heart"
Bonnie Tyler
10/1 - 10/28
1984 - "I Just Called to Say I Love You"
Stevie Wonder
10/13 - 11/2
1985 - "Oh Sheila"
Ready for the World
10/12 - 10/18
1986 - "When I Think of You"
Janet Jackson
10/11 - 10/24
1987 - "Lost in Emotion"
Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam
10/17 - 10/23
1988 - "Red Red Wine"
UB40
10/15 - 10/21
1989 - "Miss You Much"
Janet Jackson
10/7 - 11/3
Click Here For More 80s Music Fun Facts and Awards
Headlines
(October 17th)
1981 - "Arthur's Theme" by Christopher Cross Became the #1 Song in America
* #1 Song in America from October 17 - November 6
Canada: #1
Norway: #1
The Theme Song For the 1981 Film Arthur
_______________________________
1989 - The 6.9 Loma Prieta Earthquake Struck the San Francisco Bay Area Live During the World Series
Killed: 63
Injured: 3,757
Damage: $6 Billion
Did You Know?
Both Bay Area Teams Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants Were Playing in the World Series
Tom Cruise
Happy 80s Birthdays
1947 - Michael McKean (Actor) Laverne & Shirley ‘Lenny”
Birthplace: New York City
1956 - Fran Cosmo (Singer) Boston
Birthplace: Mohawk Valley, New York
1957 - Steve McMichael (Football)
Birthplace: Houston, Texas
1958 - Alan Jackson (Country Singer)
Birthplace: Newman, Georgia
1968 - Ziggy Marley (Singer)
Birthplace: Kingston, Jamaica
Fun Fact!
Ziggy Marely is the Oldest Son to Bob Marley
_______________________________
Other Notable Birthdays
Rita Hayworth (Actress)
October 17, 1918 - May 14, 1987
Birthplace: New York City
Passed Away at Age 68 From Complications of Alzheimer's Disease
* Diagnosed in 1980
The Top Actress From the 1940's
Ralph Wilson (American Businessman)
October 17, 1918 - March 25, 2014
Birthplace: Columbus, Ohio
Passed Away at Age 95 From Natural Causes
* Had to Use a Wheelchair After Breaking His Hip in July 2011
The Founder and Owner of the Buffalo Bills
Robert Atkins (American Cardiologist)
October 17, 1930 - April 17, 2003
Birthplace: Columbus, Ohio
Passed Away at Age 72 After Falling and Hitting His His Head On an Icy Sidewalk
* Had a History of Heart Attack, Congestive Heart Failure and Hypertension
The Founder of The Atkins Diet
Evel Knieval (Daredevil)
October 17, 1938 - November 30, 2007
Birthplace: Butte, Missouri
Passed Away at Age 69 From Diabetes and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
* Knievel's Most Famous Stunt Was Attempting to Jump the Fountains at Caesars Palace, Which Resulted in Severe Injuries
Considered the Greatest Daredevil of All-Time
Michael Hossack (Drummer)
October 17, 1946 - March 12, 2012
Birthplace: Paterson, New Jersey
Passed Away on March 12, 2012 at Age 65 From Cancer
* Unknown Type of Cancer
The Drummer For The Doobie Brothers
George Wendt (Actor)
October 17, 1948 - May 20, 2025
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
Passed Away at Age 76 From Cardiac Arrest
* Passed Away in His Los Angeles Home
A 6x Grammy Nominee For His Role a Norm on Cheers
Margot Kidder (Actress)
October 17, 1948 - May 13, 2018
Birthplace: Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
Passed Away at Age 69 From an Alcohol and Drug Overdose
* Ruled a Suicide
Played Louis Lane in the Superman Movies
_______________________________
Passed Away
(On This Day)
Ben Weider (Bodybuilding)
February 1, 1923 - October 17, 2008
Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Passed Away at Age 85
* Unknown Cause of Death
Co-Founded The International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness with Brother Joe
_______________________________
80s Movies
(Released On This Day)
1986 - The Color of Money
Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Helen Shaver, John Turturro, Bill Cobbs and Forest Whitaker
Budget: $13.8 Million
Box Office: $52.3 Million
_______________________________
80s Television
(On This Day)
1981 - George Kennedy Hosted Saturday Night Live
Musical Guest: Miles Davis
1983 - The Sally Jesse Raphael Show Premiered in Syndication
Seasons: 19
Episodes: 3,820
_______________________________
80s Music
(Albums Released On This Day)
1980 - The River
Bruce Springsteen (5th Album)
Hit #1 on the US Billboard 200 Charts
* Also Hit #1 in Canada
1980 - Just Supposin'
Status Quo (13th Album)
Billboard Charts: #19
* #4 in the UK
1980 - Love Zombies
The Monochrome Set (2nd Album)
1980 - Making Movies
Dire Straits (3rd Album)
Billboard Charts: #19
1983 - Pipes of Peace
Paul McCartney (4th Solo Album)
Billboard Charts: #15
* Hit #1 in Norway
Featuring “Say Say Say”
1984 - Escape
Whodini (2nd Album)
Billboard Charts: #35
Featuring “Friends”
1985 - The Blasting Concept Vol. 2
Various Artists
1986 - Better Than Heaven
Stacy Q (Debut Album)
Billboard Charts: #59
Featuring “Two of Hearts”
1988 - Money For Nothing (Greatest Hits Album)
Dire Straits
Billboard Charts: #62
* Hit #1 in the UK, France and Switzerland
1988 - Rage
T’Pau (Debut Album)
* Reached #4 in the UK
1988 - Copperhead Road
Steve Earle (3rd Album)
Billboard Charts: #56
1988 - New Light Through Old Windows (Remix Album)
Chris Rea
Billboard Charts: #92
* #5 in the UK
1988 - Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1
Traveling Wilburys
Billboard Charts: #3
* Hit #1 in Canada
1989 - Selena
Selena (Debut Album)
* Reached #7 on the US Regional Mexican Charts
1989 - Storm Front
Billy Joel (11th Album)
Hit #1 on the US Billboard 200 Charts
* Featuring “We Didn’t Start the Fire”
1989 - Best of Dark Horse 1976–1989 (Compilation Album)
George Harrison
Billboard Charts: #132
1989 - Steady On
Shawn Colvin (Debut Album)
Billboard Charts: #111
1989 - Hot in the Shade
Kiss (15th Album)
Billboard Charts: #29
1989 - Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu
Suicidal Tendencies (4th Album)
Billboard Charts: #150
_______________________________
80s Sports
(On This Day)
1980 - The Kansas City Royals Beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4 - 3 (10 innings) at Royals Stadium to Take 2-1 World Series Lead
Attendance: 42,380
Willie Aikens (Royals) Walk-Off Single
George Brett Hit a Home Run After Hemorrhoid Surgery the Night Before
1982 - The Milwaukee Brewers Beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 at County Stadium to Take a 3 - 2 World Series Lead
Attendance: 56,562
Robin Yount (Brewers) Became the First Player to Get 4 Hits in 2 Different World Series Games
1983 - The Green Bay Packers Beat the Washington Redskins 48 - 47 at Lambeau Field
* Both teams Combined For 1,025 Yards
Redskins (552) Packers (473)
Spread
Redskins -3
O/U 52.0
1987 - The Minnesota Twins Beat the St. Louis Cardinals 10 - 1 at The Metrodome in Game 1 of the World Series
Attendance: 55,171
* Frank Viola 8 innings (1 ER)
Dan Gladden and Steve Lombardozzi (Twins) Hit 1st Inning Home Runs
First World Series Played in a Dome
_______________________________
Other Notable Dates
(On October 17th)
1814 - The London Beer Floods
1860 - Willie Park, Sr. Defeated Tom Morris, Sr. by 2 Strokes to Win the First British Open
Location: Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland
Course: Prestwick Golf Clue
Fun Fact!
Harry Harden (6) Has Won the Most British Open Golf Tournaments (Now Called The Open Championship)
* 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, 1914
1931 - Al Capone Was Convicted of Tax Fraud
* Sent to Alcatraz Prison
1933 - Albert Einstein Fled Germany and Headed to the United States
1979 - Mother Teresa Was Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
_______________________________
< - October 16th October 18th ->
_______________________________
_______________________________
October 17th in 80s History
_______________________________
1987 - "Lost in Emotion" by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam Became the #1 Song in America
* #1 Song in America from October 17 - 23
Fun Fact!
Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam Was Formed in New York City in 1984
A 6.9 Earthquake Hit the San Francisco Bay Area